Filler neck structure



Sept. 6, 1932. C ZARQBSKY 1,875,908

FILLER NECK STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,8 l1 8 a i i. 25 29 5 'Jifl! 30 1 j javezz'tofi UKM i Z M Mmfm Sept. 6, 1932. c. A. ZAROBSKY 1,875,908

FILLER NECK STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 11. 1929 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 jive/(f l? Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. ZABDBSKY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE EATON MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO FILLER NECK STRUCTURE Application filed October 11, 1929.

This invention relates to filler neck structures for fluid containers, such as gasoline tanks and the like, and more particularly the invention relates to structures of this type,

I which include a screen member.

An object of this invention is to provide a filler neck structure in which the screen member is releasably locked in place within the tubular member.

10 Another object of this invention is to provide a filler neck structure, in which improved locln'ng means is provided for facilitating the removal of the screen member.

The invention may be further briefly sum- 15 marized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings,

m Figure 1 is an elevational view, with parts in section, showing a filler neck structure of my invention with a bayonet type closure secured thereon.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the filler 35 neck structure.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 33 of Figure 1 with the screen member removed.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken on 30 line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the tubular member with parts thereof broken away.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the screen member.

Figure 7 is an elevational view with parts in section, showing another form of filler neck structure embodying my invention.

Figure 8 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 9 is a sectional plan view taken on line 99 of Figure 1, with the screen member removed.

Figure 10 is a section taken on line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a artial sectional view taken on line 11-11 0 Figure 9 showing certain parts in elevation; and

Fi ure 12 is a top plan view of the screen mem er.

In the embodiments of my invention illustrated in the drawings, my filler neck struc- Serial In. 889,067.

tures have been applied to container walls to provide filling o enings which have removable screen members, and which may be closed by caps, or closures, of the quick detachable bayonet type. As shown in Fig. 1 the wall of a container 15 is provided with an opening in which the filler neck structure is secured in a suitable manner, as by welding the annular bead 16 of the tubular member 17 to the container wall. At its outer end the wall of the tubular member is bent to provide a laterally extending flange 18 which is adapted to form a gasket seat. Opposed portions of the annular flange 18 are bent inwardly and are shaped to provide inclined cam portions 19 and depending stops 20. These inclined cam portions terminate at one end thereof in openings 21, which are cut through the wall 18 to afford access to the cams, and at the opposite end terminate in dwells or recesses 22, formed adjacent the sto s 20.

or closin the opening in this tubular member a suitable cap or closure 23 may be provided, which is shown in this instance as having a. lockin member 24, formed with laterally exten 'ng resilient fingers 25. When the cap is applied to the opening of the filler neck structure the fingers 25 enter the openings 21, and upon rotation of the cap relative to the tubular member, these fingers engage and follow the inclined cam portions. The engagement of the fingers with these cam portions draws the cap toward the end of the tubular member, causing the gasket 26 to be engaged on one side by an annular bead 27, provided on the body of the cap, and on the other side by the annular head 28 provided on the annular flange 18.

At the inner end of the tubular member the annular head 16 engages and supports a pair of annular metal stampin s 29 and 30, which together form the means or supporting and releasably locking the screen member 31 in place within the tubular member. The annular disk is formed with an axially extending flange 32, which closely surrounds the upper end portion of the screen member. The portions of the annular members immediately surrounding the central openings therein, are spaced apart throughout substantially their full circumference to receiye therebetween the laterally extending lugs or projections 33 provided at the upper end of the screen member. The annular member 29 is provided with opposed slots 34 therethrough, which separate the circumferentially extending portions 34 and which afl'ord access to the space between the members.

As clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the metal at one edge of the slots 34 is turned downwardly toward the annular member 30, forming the depending lug 35. The metal at the opposite edge of the slots is turned upwardly to form the rounded edge portions 36. Approximately midway between the slots 34, small portions of the annular member 29 are pressed downwardly, forming lugs 37 which extend across the space between the two annular members and act as stops. When the screen member is inserted through the opening of the tubular member 17 the lugs 33 pass through the opposed openings 20 and are received in the slots 34. Upon rotation of the screen member the lugs 33 enter the space between the annular members, and continued rotation of the screen member brings the lugs into engagement with the stops 37, which arrest further rotational movement. The rounded portions 36, formed at one edge of the slots 34, facilitate the entry of the lugs 33 into the space between the annular, members when the screen member is rotated in one direction, while the downwardly bent portions of the annular member 29, facilitate the disenagement of the lugs by preventing them I'OIIl entering the space between the members at the other edge of the slots 34, when the screen member is rotated in the reverse direction. The portions 34 of the annular member 29, which are spaced from the annular member 30, thus serve as locking members which possess suflicient resiliency to cause the lugs 33 to be frictionally engagedbetween the two members, thereby preventing accidental disengagement of the screen member.

For facilitating the turning of the screen member to cause the'lugs 33 to engage or disengage the locking members, I provide opposed slots 38 spaced around the top portion of the screen member. A wrench, of suitable form, inserted through the opening in the tubular member will engage these openings, "whereby the screen member may be easily rotated when it is desired to insert or, remove the same.

In the form of filler neck structure shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the screen member 40 is supported in position by a single annular member 41, which is held in the bead 42 provided at the inner end of the tubular member 43. In this form of construction portions of the annular member 41 are sheared and struck upwardly to form the circumferentially extending resilient locking members 44. These locking members are so formed that at one end they remain integrally attached to the annular member, while at the opposite end and along the line 45 they are sheared to permit the laterally extending lugs 46 of the screen member to engage thereunder upon rotational movement of the screen member.

In both forms of the tiller neck structures illustrated, the screen member may be constructed of suitable perforated material and may be of any convenient length. Such a screen member, it will be readily understood, will fulfill the function of straining foreign matter out of the fluids which are poured into the container through the tubular member surrounding the filling opening. Likewise, this screen member will fulfill, in a well known manner, the function of a safety device which prevents gases or vapors within the container from being ignited by a spark or flame being brought into proximity with the filling opening.

In these filler neck structures of my invention, it will be readily seen that the locking means, which I have provided for holding the screen member in place, within the tubular member, permits the screen member to be quickly and easily disengaged when removal of this member becomes desirable or necessary for the purpose of cleaning.

While I have shown and described the apparatus of my invention in a detailed manner, it should be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to precise details shown and described, but regard my invention as including such changes and modifications as do not involve a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A filler neck structure comprising, a tubular member, a screen member, and means for releasably locking said members together, said means comprising lugs on said screen member, and an annular part carried by said tubular member and having circumferentially extending resilient locking portions adapted to be engaged by said lugs, said looking portions being integral with said annular part.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a tubular member, an annular member carried thereby, spaced circumferentially extending resilient locking portions having integral connection at one end thereof with said annular member, a screen adapted to extend through the opening of said annular member, and projections on said screen for releasable engagement with said locking portions.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubular member having a substantially laterally extending portion carried thereby, resilient locking members sheared from said lateraly extendin portion, a screen, and lugs on said screen a apted to engage under said locking members for releasably securing said screen to said tubular member.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubular member, a pair of annular members carried by said tubular member and having portions thereof in spaced relation, one of said members having slots therethrough afi'ording access to the space between said portions, a screen, and projections on said screen adapted to enter said slots and to be moved into the space between said portions for preventing displacement of said screen, said annular members being held around their outer edge by said tubular member whereby said spaced portions are adapted to resiliently grip the projections of said screen.

5. A structure of the character described comprising a tubular member having an openin g therethrough and a substantially laterally extending sheet metal ring disposed in sai opening, a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuately extending resilient locking portions spaced from the surface of said ring in the axial direction of said tubular member, and a screen member having laterally extending finger portions adapted to engage under said locking portions for releasably locking said members together upon relative rotation therebetween.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aifix my signature.

CHARLES A. ZAROBSKY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. l, 875, 908.

CHARLES A. ZAROBSKY.

September 6, 1932.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously described and specified as "The Eaton Manufacturing Company", whereas said name should have been described and specified as Eaton Manufacturing Company, as shown by the records of assignments in this office;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correcti that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of November, A. D. 1932.

(Seal) on therein M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

carried thereby, resilient locking members sheared from said lateraly extendin portion, a screen, and lugs on said screen a apted to engage under said locking members for releasably securing said screen to said tubular member.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubular member, a pair of annular members carried by said tubular member and having portions thereof in spaced relation, one of said members having slots therethrough afi'ording access to the space between said portions, a screen, and projections on said screen adapted to enter said slots and to be moved into the space between said portions for preventing displacement of said screen, said annular members being held around their outer edge by said tubular member whereby said spaced portions are adapted to resiliently grip the projections of said screen.

5. A structure of the character described comprising a tubular member having an openin g therethrough and a substantially laterally extending sheet metal ring disposed in sai opening, a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuately extending resilient locking portions spaced from the surface of said ring in the axial direction of said tubular member, and a screen member having laterally extending finger portions adapted to engage under said locking portions for releasably locking said members together upon relative rotation therebetween.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aifix my signature.

CHARLES A. ZAROBSKY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. l, 875, 908.

CHARLES A. ZAROBSKY.

September 6, 1932.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously described and specified as "The Eaton Manufacturing Company", whereas said name should have been described and specified as Eaton Manufacturing Company, as shown by the records of assignments in this office;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correcti that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of November, A. D. 1932.

(Seal) on therein M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

